The time between the winter solstice and January 7 is my favorite of the year. Why? Because I’ll gorge myself on delicious treats while binge-watching anime? And what type of anime do I watch? Well, food-related anime, of course! I’m sure that’s something that appeals to plenty of people. So, grab your favorite meal, then pair it with these gourmet animes if you still have lazy days ahead.
Gourmet Anime — Delicious in Dungeon
Long ago, plentiful and varied food was a legend as great as the second season of No Game No Life. If you have $500 and Whole Foods, you have more variety than medieval royalty. One reason we have such a wide array of food is a brave soul poked something with a stick and shoved a piece of it down their throat. Necessity ensured that we had to endure various culinary Russian roulette games to progress through life.
Dungeon Meshi shows this blatantly overlooked fact more eloquently than any other gourmet anime I’ve watched. When a group of adventurers faces near defeat in the lower levels of a dungeon against a Red Dragon, their healer sacrifices herself to teleport the rest of the party to the surface. But there’s a twist. Death doesn’t roam in the halls of that dungeon. This means that should the party of adventurers make it to her in time, they can put her back together and rescue the fallen healer.
But they’re broke and lacking supplies. Out of necessity — and fueled by their party leader’s gleeful excitement — they must eat monsters as they venture into the lower levels. Though this isn’t the doom and gloom, it seems to be. As they’re joined along the way by the dwarf equivalent of Eric Ripert, they realize that monsters can be good-eating. As gourmet animes go, Delicious in Dungeon can easily appeal to a wider variety of people than the rest of the shows on this list. There’s an adventure, honest dungeon crawling, and a healthy dose of cryptozoology. Studio Trigger animates the 24-episode Dungeon Meshi. The show is streaming on Netflix.
Restaurant to Another World
Few things have lost as much of their original meaning as the word “adventure.” Where “adventure” once referred to braving the unknown, it’s now applied to neatly planned and bought experiences. That trip to Bali to “find yourself?” That’s not an adventure. That’s a vacation. Real adventure needs to welcome risk and the unknown. It’s that uncertainty that merits the name. And for those who take on that challenge, nothing is as rewarding as the feeling that a safe place to eat a warm meal gives you. That’s what Isekai Shokudou is all about.
On an indiscreet street corner, you can find Western Restaurant Nekoya. This sleepy little dive serves a blend of Japanese and Western food. Despite its homely appearance and limited menu, it’s a hit with Tokyoites. But, instead of welcoming the masses on Saturday, the restaurant closes its doors. While that may seem an unintelligent business move, there’s a fantastic reason behind that. On those days, magical doorways to other worlds open, and their residents visit Nekoya as staff and clientele.
Restaurant to Another World is a thoroughbred slice-of-life, gourmet anime. Cute girls are doing cute things, and there’s little drama. Yet the whole vibe of the show is godly. You feel like you’re sharing a drink and meal with Nekoya’s patrons. Because, for a show that really doesn’t have earth-shattering drama, it has some lengthy character-building. Isekai Shokudou currently boasts two seasons to its name. Silver Link animated the first 12-episode season. Studio OLM animated the second 12-episode season. Both stream on Crunchyroll.
Gourmet Anime — Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family
When you think of Fate, you think of epic fights, grand worldbuilding, and many lewdable waifus. But did you know that the Fate franchise also has a 12-episode short-form ONA? If you think that sounds strange, it’s about to get even weirder! The Ufotable animated Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan looks like it’s a Manga Time Kirara adaptation. The show’s colors are soft and inviting, and the characters are positively kawaii. The designs in Fate/Kaleid don’t come close to how adorable the characters here are.
This gourmet anime is one of two on the list that provides easily copied recipes, and they’re (SWEAR WORD MY EDITOR WON’T LET ME USE) incredible. I consider myself a foodie. I’ll try anything at least once. So, I can honestly say that I copied all the recipes from this show, and my cooking skills are better for it! Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan is a quick binge because its episodes only run between 12 and 15 minutes. So, you may ask, “Kashou, where does this fit in the Fate timeline?” I answer, “Where does anything fit in the Fate timeline?” All I can tell you is masters and servants no longer fight. They FEAST together as friends!
Did I mention the supercharged kawaii character designs? I did? I’ll say so again! Illya and Rin made me squeal whenever they came on screen. Do yourself a favor and watch this show. It’s available on Crunchyroll.
Gourmet Girl Graffiti
A memory that will follow me to the grave was watching the Breaking Borders episode about the Bosnian conflict. It was the first time I considered that food can bring us together in ways we can’t even imagine. And the more I contemplated the topic, the more I realized that food has always brought us together, both in the best and worst ways. Gourmet Girl Graffiti is a show that depicts how many positive connections food can serve.
Not all gourmet anime are the same. The best-known title in the franchise is, without a doubt, Food Wars. But while that excites the groin, it fails to excite the heart. Contrary to that, this show lights a flame in your heart and pours gasoline on the fire. I cried several times during this show. It’s as tender as an A5 wagyu filet mignon. Koufuku Graffiti is the type of anime Dom Toretto would love. Because it lets you know that nothing is more important than family, and family is who you choose. The 12-episode Shaft animated series (lots of head tilts in this one) follows Ryou Machiko, a girl with truly divine cooking skills. But the death of her grandmother dampens her culinary prowess. And when loneliness and depression set in, her food loses its luster.
Right as Ryou starts to resign herself to a life of emptiness, salvation comes her way via her cousin Kirin, who starts staying with her over the weekend. And, as Ryou once again feels the warmth from sharing a meal with someone you love, her culinary skills skyrocket again. And with Kirin’s affection, Ryou’s world slowly grows in size.
Gourmet Anime — A Taste of the Good Life
Knowing how to cook a solid meal is an invaluable life skill. Likewise, enjoying a well-made meal is one of life’s greatest pleasures. And any pleasure that’s coupled with anime gets better. That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact. So, learn more about food and enjoy it more with the help of these gourmet animes. Hopefully, they even inspire you to strengthen your culinary skills. That’s a buff (no matter how much you spam it) only makes your life better. Plus, think of the waifus. Don’t you want these delectable cooking girls to be proud of you? Sure, you do, so don’t waste any time. Binge-watch these series, then run to your local food market, pick up some supplies, and begin your journey to master the art of cuisine. Or become a couch potato while looking at cute anime girls eating. Both those choices are acceptable.
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